How states fared on unemployment benefit claims

The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid jumped last week, though the increase mostly reflected difficulties the government has seasonally adjusting its numbers. Applications are still at levels signaling modest hiring.

The Labor Department says that applications rose 38,000 to a seasonally adjusted 368,000.

Here are the states with the biggest decreases and increases in applications. The state data are for the week ended Jan. 19, one week behind the national data.

States with the biggest decreases:

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Pennsylvania: Up 12,565, due to fewer layoffs in construction, professional and scientific services and restaurants

Texas: Down 10,448, no reason given

North Carolina: Down 9,287, due to fewer layoffs in textiles, construction and transportation

New York: Down 7,379, due to fewer layoffs in construction, transportation and manufacturing

Indiana: Down 6,069, no reason given

Georgia: Down 6,016, due to fewer layoffs in manufacturing, administration and support services, and hotels and restaurants

Missouri: Down 5,733, due to fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction and hotels and restaurants

States with the biggest increases:

Florida: Up 1,157, due to layoffs in construction, services manufacturing and retail